Ten Best: The Imports of 2013

The highly unofficial awards season gets underway with the best imports of 2013...

When Strikeforce shuttered its doors after its final show in January, fight fans bowed their heads in respect for the organization but raised them shortly thereafter when they realized that the top guns from the promotion would soon be making their way to the UFC Octagon. And when you look at the list below, you’ll see just what kind of impact they had in their new home.

10 - Yoel RomeroA member of the 2000 Cuban Olympic freestyle wrestling team, Yoel Romero’s lone Strikeforce fight resulted in a knockout loss to Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante. But once the “Soldier of God” migrated to the Octagon, he looked to be a changed fighter in his new weight class – middleweight – as he knocked out Clifford Starks and Ronny Markes in devastating fashion.

9 – Amanda NunesAnother fighter who didn’t exactly set the world on fire in Strikeforce was Brazil’s Amanda Nunes, who went 1-1 in the promotion in 2011. But once unleashed on the bantamweights of the UFC, Nunes showed off the ferocity that earned her such accolades over the years, needing less than a round each to pound out TKO victories over Sheila Gaff and Germaine de Randamie in 2013. Watch on UFC Fight Pass (where available)

8 – Alexis DavisWith only one loss (in a classic against Sarah Kaufman) since 2010, Alexis Davis’ place among the best in the women’s bantamweight division was already established. But to cement that place, Davis picked up three wins in 2013, one in Invicta over TUF 18’s Shayna Baszler, and two UFC victories over Rosi Sexton and Liz Carmouche. Watch on UFC Fight Pass

7 – Tim KennedyLongtime middleweight contender Tim Kennedy closed the show on his Strikeforce career in January with a submission victory over Trevor Smith, and while his clear-cut decision win over Roger Gracie didn’t light any fires, he certainly made an impact on the division in November when the U.S. Army veteran knocked out Rafael Natal in front of the troops in Kentucky. Watch on UFC Fight Pass

6 – Bobby GreenAfter a 2011 loss to Gesias Cavalcante, California lightweight Bobby Green quietly built a four fight winning streak in Strikeforce, earning him a call to the UFC. But “King” wasn’t quiet anymore once he hit the Octagon, earning a Submission of the Night win over Jacob Volkmann in February, and then going on to stop James Krause and decision Pat Healy to finish off a big 3-0 year. Watch on UFC Fight Pass

5 - Tyron WoodleyOne of the most highly-touted imports to arrive in the Octagon in 2013, Tyron Woodley didn’t disappoint, needing just 36 seconds to dispatch Jay Hieron in his February debut, and while a controversial split decision loss to Jake Shields in June slowed his momentum, he got it all back – and more – with his Knockout of the Night win over Josh Koscheck in November. Watch on UFC Fight Pass

4 - Gilbert MelendezLongtime former Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez might have been on top of this list if not for his controversial title fight loss against Benson Henderson in April, but his effort in that bout, and his stirring Fight of the Night win over Diego Sanchez in October made it clear that “El Nino” remains among the best 155-pounders on the planet. Watch on UFC Fight Pass

3 - Ronaldo SouzaAnother former Strikeforce champion, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, was always a scary groundfighter. But when he started adding knockouts to his resume, he got even more frightening. In 2013, he showed off all aspects of his game, submitting Ed Herman in Strikeforce in January and Chris Camozzi in his UFC debut in May, and in September, he closed out the year with a TKO win over Yushin Okami. UFC middleweights, beware. Watch on UFC Fight Pass

2 - Daniel CormierDaniel Cormier first made his name as an Olympic wrestler, then as the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner. But in the UFC he’s taken things up a notch, defeating Frank Mir and Roy Nelson in dominant fashion before announcing that in 2014, he’ll be taking a shot at the 205 pounders, starting with Rashad Evans in February. Watch on UFC Fight Pass

1 - Ronda RouseyIn and out of the Octagon, the first woman to hold a UFC championship had an impact that really can’t be quantified. Suffice to say that when Ronda Rousey is on a card, the world will be watching. In February, Rousey made her debut with a submission win over Liz Carmouche, and after a coaching stint against Miesha Tate, she closed out her rivalry with Tate at UFC 168 in December with a victory that earned her Submission and Fight of the Night honors. Watch on UFC Fight Pass

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